Lemon tree named &#39;7 ELS C3&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘7 ELS C3’ is a new and distinct lemon tree notable for its high quality seedless fruit.

Genus and species: Citrus limon.

Variety denomination: ‘7 ELS C3’.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The new lemon variety ‘7 ELS C3’ originated as an induced mutation of ‘Eureka’ lemon (not patented). Gamma irradiation from a Gammacell 200 (60C) source was applied to bud sticks of ‘Eureka’ in 1998 at Emerald, Queensland, Australia. The irradiated bud sticks were budded onto ‘Carrizo’ rootstock in June 1998 at Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, and the trees that survived were field planted at Bundaberg in 1999. The selection now known as ‘7 ELS C3’ was identified as showing consistently fewer seeds than the parent variety, with no significant reduction in fruit size. A comparative trial was planted in 2003, using ‘7 ELS C3’ budwood on ‘Benton’ (not patented) rootstock. Successive generations have consistently shown few seeds and have reproduced true to type.

‘7 ELS C3’ is a new and distinct lemon tree notable for its fruit, which produces consistently low numbers of seeds. Table 1 shows a comparison of ‘7 ELS C3’ lemon to ‘Eureka’ and other similar (unpatented) varieties.

TABLE 1 Comparison of ‘7 ELS C3’ to Known Varieties Characteristic ‘7 ELS C3’ ‘3 ELS 0’ ‘Eureka’ Seed quantity Few to medium Absent to few Many Mean fruit length (mm) 84.24 74.56 84.76 Mean fruit diameter (mm) 60.32 57.16 62.84 Fruit length/diameter ratio 1.40 1.31 1.35 Rind thickness (mm) 4.76 4.48 5.24

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

FIG. 1 shows whole and sectioned fruit of ‘7 ELS C3’ lemon;

FIG. 2 shows a ‘7 ELS C3’ lemon tree;

FIG. 3 shows the trunk, branches and leaves of a ‘7 ELS C3’ lemon tree; and

FIG. 4 shows the fruit and leaves of a ‘7 ELS C3’ lemon tree.

Because lighting conditions can affect the colors shown in photographic illustrations, color characteristics of this new variety should be determined with reference to the observations described herein, rather than from the illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed botanical description is based on observations of trees and fruit of ‘7 ELS C3’, budded to ‘Benton’ rootstock (not patented) and planted in 2003. Observations were recorded and photographs taken during the 2006 and 2014 growing seasons at Mundubbera, Queensland, Australia. It should be understood that the characteristics described will vary somewhat depending upon cultural practices and climatic conditions, and can vary with location and season. Quantified measurements are expressed as an average of measurements taken from a number of individual plants of the new variety. The measurements of any individual plant, or any group of plants, of the new variety may vary from the stated average. Colors are described with reference to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart.

-   Tree: Vigor Vigorous Density of canopy Dense Habit Upright spreading     Height 4 m Spread 3 m Trunk diameter (at 30 cm above graft) 150 mm     Bark texture Smooth Bark color Greyed-orange 163D, greyed-purple     N187A Lenticel size 1 mm Lenticel color Greyed-purple N187A Lenticel     quality Many Tendency toward alternate bearing None Winter hardiness     Same as ‘Eureka’ Chilling requirement Same as ‘Eureka’ Drought     tolerance Same as ‘Eureka’. -   Branch (fruiting branch located about 1 m above graft union): Length     80 cm Diameter 6 cm Crotch angle Approximately 30 degrees Bark color     Greyed-orange 163D, greyed-purple N187A Bark texture Smooth Thorns     Present Thorn length Very short, 5 mm or less Current year shoot     Length 80 cm Color Green 140A Blossoms Bud shape Oval Bud length 2.2     mm Bud diameter 1 mm Bud color Yellow-green 144A Quantity of     blossoms per cluster 4 to 7 Blossom diameter 23 mm Blossom depth 19     mm Pollen None Sepal length 4.2 mm Sepal width 4.4 mm Sepal shape     Arched Sepal margin Smooth Sepal color — upper surface Yellow 2B     Sepal color — lower surface Yellow 3B Quantity of petals per flower     6 Petal shape Elongated arch Petal apex 6 mm Petal margin Smooth     Petal length 19 mm Petal width 5.2 mm Petal color — upper surface     White NN155D Petal color — lower surface White NN155D, violet 84D     Date of first bloom Late August Date of full bloom Early September     Date of first fruitlet fall November Pedicel length 5 mm Pedicel     diameter 1.9 mm Pedicel color Yellow-green 151C Pistil quantity per     flower 1 Pistil length 11.9 mm Pistil color Orange 26A, yellow 9A,     yellow-green 144A Anther quantity per flower 1 Anther length 3 mm     Anther color Orange 26A Stigma quantity per flower 1 Stigma length     2.1 mm Stigma color Yellow 9A Style quantity per flower 1 Style     length 9.8 mm Style color Yellow 1B Ovary quantity per flower 1     Ovary length 4.7 mm Ovary diameter 3 mm Ovary color Yellow-green     144A Leaves Length 105 mm Width 58.7 mm Length/width ratio 1.78     Blade margin Crenate Leaf shape Oval, weak concave Apex shape Acute     Base shape Cuneate Color of upper surface Green 143B Color of lower     surface Yellow-green 145A Leaf texture Smooth Petiole length 12.3 mm     Petiole diameter 2.5 mm Petiole color Yellow-green N144D Wings None     Fruit Quantity per cluster 4 Axial diameter 84.24 mm Apical diameter     60.32 mm Weight 159 g General shape in profile Oval Navel None Rind     color Green 140B Oil glands per cm² About 40 Oil gland diameter 1 mm     Rind thickness 4.7 mm Ease of peeling Difficult Rind texture Smooth     Albedo thickness 3 mm Albedo color Yellow 2C Quantity of fruit     segments per fruit 8.2 (average of 25 fruit) Toughness of segment     membrane Moderate Juice sac length 9 mm Juice sac shape Cylinder     Juice sac length to width ratio 9:1.5 Juice sac color Yellow 2C     Juice soluble solids (° Brix) 7.5 Relative harvest maturity (early,     late, etc.) Early Harvest window (date range) January through     December Seeds present None or very few Stem length 20 mm Stem     diameter 4 mm Stem color Yellow-green 144B. -   Harvest yield: 50 to 100 Tons per hectare. -   Market use: Fresh. -   Keeping quality: Same as ‘Eureka’. -   Shipping quality: Same as ‘Eureka’. 

1. A new and distinct variety of lemon tree, substantially as illustrated and described herein 